Monthly Archives: March 2018

After the last two slightly unusual models, we’re back to something more conventional in build and design.
This is a lozenge design with three embrasures on the longest side.
Its the same as the one on Croft Road on the other side of town.
Its positioning is presumably to defend the crossing point over the railway.

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This pillbox is only a short distance from the one on the opposite side of the bridge, but of a completely different construction.
It’s been made from concrete blocks and beams, with a couple of rows of bricks at the top.
The roof is now gone and the walls badly cracked, so i’m not sure it would have stood up to any heavy attack should it ever have been needed.

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This Pillbox is one of a pair defending the Blackwell Bridge crossing of the River Skerne in Darlington
The structure is now deeply buried in the undergrowth and tricky to approach
The pillbox itself is not like any other i’ve ever seen, it seems to have been constructed from pre-fabricated sections
Several areas have ripples that look like they were cast against corrugated iron sheets

Distance: 3½ miles; Ascent 450ft; Duration: 3½-4 hours Meet at 10:30am outside Skelton Library, on Coniston Road, Skelton. The season opens with a circular walk that takes in Skelton, North Skelton and Hollybush. The heritage comes thick and fast: Frank Wild, Antarctic explorer; the lands of Robert de Brus; medieval trackways; Skelton’s coal mines; the Quaker burial ground; the last ironstone mine to close, at North Skelton; the railway station at North Skelton, and the Longacre ironstone mine.

The pace of the walks is leisurely, with regular stops to admire the view (especially when going uphill!) and to hear about the heritage around us.

A charge of £2 per person will be made on each walk to offset the costs of Insurance. Please wear appropriate footwear and have clothing suitable for the likely weather conditions on that day. It is suggested that you bring food and drink as we usually stop between midday and 1:00pm for a lunch break.

Further details can be had from: skeltonhistorygroup@gmail.com or by contacting Peter Appleton (Tel: 01287 281752)

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Norton National School was built in 1833. by the “National Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor in the Principles of the Established Church in England and Wales” which had been founded in 1811 to support the building of National Schools on behalf of the Anglican Church.

In later years it has been a Sunday School, for Scout and Guide meeting and as St. Marys Church Parish Hall.

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The recent uncovering of the petrified forest at Redcar has been the subject of much media attention, with news crews and visitors swarming over the beach taking photos.

The last time I remember seeing it, was back in the early days of this website in 2007 when there was only me taking photos, although to be honest it was nowhere near as spectacular as this time around.

The biggest difference this time is the uncovering of a wreck that i’ve never seen before